Power. Speed. Courage. Freedom. These are the words that we associate with one of the greatest raptors of them all, the Bald Eagle. It is no mystery why it is the national symbol of America, for if one has ever spent any time with these powerful birds, it quickly becomes apparent why these birds are a national treasure, and a sight to behold.
There are two species of Bald Eagles, and in the gulf states, the Southern Bald Eagle is king. Florida has the largest population of Bald Eagles in the continuous 48-states, with only Alaska having the largest populations. The Bald Eagle is also known as the "Sea or Fish Eagle" since it's main diet is dead or dying fish that they routinely catch out of rivers, lakes and oceans. They also eat snakes, smaller birds, rodents and rabbits.
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Watch A Movie Clip Of A Bald Eagle
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Many people wonder why the Bald Eagle is "Bald", since they are not actually bald, but have feathers that cover their head, unlike the Black and Turkey Vultures that have no feathers on their head. At one time, "bald" meant "white", so the Eagle with it's brilliant white plumage on it's head, was named as it is known today. It also has a beautiful white tail, that when is seen soaring overhead with it's wing span over 8-feet and can cruise at altitudes of a thousand feet in the air, they are unmistakable when spotted.
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View A Close-Up Of A Bald Eagle
View Photo Of A Bald Eagle In A Splash Pine
View Photo Of A Bald Eagle Fishing
View Photo Of A Bald Eagle Soaring Overhead
View Photo Of A Bald Eagle Sitting In A Snag
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In 1967, the Bald Eagle was officially declared as an "Endangered Species", since most of it's native habitat was destroyed and lost to human development, especially in Southern Florida. In 1973, the Endangered Species Act was passed by Congress to help bring back the Bald Eagle, and to insure that our beloved national symbol was preserved for future generations.
Bald Eagles can live up to 30-years in the wild, and some can live longer in captivity. They also mate for life, and when a pair mate, they will stay with each other for the rest of their lives. They will mature around the ages of 4-5 years old, and once paired, they build one the the largest nests in the bird family, with some nests reaching 1-ton (2000 pounds) in weight. The Bald Eagle can fly 20 to 40 mph in normal flight and can dive at speeds over 100 mph, which if it spots a fish on the open waters of a lake, it's dinner.
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View Photo Of A Bald Eagle Landing
View Photo Of A Pair Of Bald Eagles
View Photo Of A Male Bald Eagle
View Photo Of A Female Bald Eagle
View Photo Of A Bald Eagle In A Nest
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Seeing a Bald Eagle in the wild is without a doubt the most rewarding experience one can have, and I have been following a pair that have returned year after year to the same nest, and each year bringing into the world several young Bald Eagles. Baby Eagles are known as "Eaglets", and are very different in color then their parents, for they are completely a dark chocolate brown when born, and have no white in their head or tail feathers as their parents do.
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Listen To The Sounds Of A Bald Eagle
(MP3 Format - :05 - 215KB)
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For the first 4 to 5 years of the immature Bald Eagles life, they will not gain the look of their adult parents, and when they are spotted, they are often mistaken for Golden Eagles, which even as adults, do not have the white markings as the Bald Eagles have. When the adults lay their eggs, they are born in about four weeks, and they reach the ability to fledge from their nest in about three months. The little ones will be dependent on their parents for their first year of life, even though they can hunt for their own food when they fledge the nest.
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View Photo Of A Two-week Old Eaglet In Nest
View Photo Of A Pair Of Five-week Old Eaglets
View Photo Of A Eight-week Old Eaglet Practicing To Fly
View Photo Of A Twelve-week Old Eaglet And Mother
View Photo Of An Eaglet Sitting On A Snag
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Bald Eagles are a special creature, and one of our most memorable moment when we first saw one in the wild while on vacation in Key Largo, sitting up on a power pole. Ever since then, we have always been on the lookout for others, for they truly take your breath away when they soar over your head.
Article Written By Dawn La Follette